World's Best Heckler Ask Abe

I'm sure you're familiar with those "best-and-worst" collections. But Bruce Felton and Mark Fowler have taken the listing one step further with their book, "Best, Worst and Most Unusual."

In the second edition of their popular publication, the pair lists a "Best Heckler" - Pete Adelis.

Tagged "Leather Lung Pete" or "The Iron Lung," Adelis was baseball's first professional heckler. It was tough to miss the 6-foot, 260-pounder in his box seat behind home plate.

He wrestled to get into a size 52 suit, and Abe's dad - an avid baseball fan - remembers "Leather Lung" as a rather rotund gent who had a passion for hoagies.

The "scientific heckler" knew the sensitivities of each player and used them to his advantage.

The Philadelphia A's were so impressed with Adelis' booming voice and ability to rattle opposing players that the club picked up his traveling expenses to shake up opponents in their own ballyards.

In the early 1950s, Pete was hired away by New York to bellow his agitations in the National League, but he exceeded himself when he abused the home team.

Adelis was seated behind home plate atEbbets Field when Billy Herman came to bat. Pete was not a Herman fan and was riding him hard. The pesky second baseman was unusually susceptible that afternoon, upset by the death of friend and former Dodger Arkie Vaughn.

When Herman took a called third strike, Adelis bellowed, "Herman, the wrong guy drowned!"

Herman dropped his bat, leaped into the stands, and chased the antagonist through the aisles.

Adelis survived, but was banished from Ebbetts Field.

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Couple of tidbits.

- The Washington Bullets' 7-6 1/4 Manute Bol not only has blocked more shots than he has attempted (183-108 at last glance), but he also has more blocks than points (109).

- From the late Bill Veeck: "I have discovered, in 30 years of moving around a ballpark, that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats."

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Abe, where do I send for information and an entry blank so I can participate in the Pennsylvania Senior Olympics?

Thank you.

B.G., Lehighton

Last year's local Senior Olympics - in Allentown and Easton - were sponsored by the Lehigh County Senior Citizens Center, Allentown Recreation Bureau, Allentown Jaycees, and the Northampton County Parks and Recreation Department in cooperation with the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging.

Since you live in Lehighton, you might want to call the Carbon County Bureau of Aging at 717-325-2726.

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Dear Abe, do the players on both the winning and losing teams receive rings for playing in the Super Bowl?

Thanks.

CaL Brotzman, Easton

The winners receive the world championship, and the losers the conference championship rings. Thus, the Bears will get the NFL title bands and the New England Patriots the American Conference ornament.

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Abe, have to hear your opinion on what college ballplayers will be drafted in the first round by the National Basketball Association.

We figure that the eastern clubs will contribute heavily to the pros.

Ted Wagner, Bethlehem

Here's my Top 12.

Rafael Addison and Pearl Washington of Syracuse, Mark Alarie and Johnny Dawkins of Duke, Ken Barlow of Notre Dame, Brad Daugherty of North Carolina, Michael Jackson and David Wingate of Georgetown, Mo Martin of St. Joe's, Mark Price of George Tech, Roy Tarpley of Michigan and Kenny Walker of Kentucky.

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Abe, would you be kind enough to explain the difference between isokinetic exercises and isometric exercises. Which are better?

Mike Ritter, Fogelsville

Isokinetic exercise is strength-building exercise in which the muscles strain against a constant resistance through the entire range of movement. The exercise requires the use of a device which limits the speed with which the muscles can move and at the same time exerts a constant resistance - such as pushing or pulling a shock absorber.

The claimed advantage is that muscle strength is built through a full range of movement and that less time is required to build muscle tissue.

Isometrics are exercises in which the muscles strain against unmoving resistance, such as a wall or door frame. In such exercises, the muscles are subject to stress yet do not move. This form of exercise tends to build strength at only a single point in the range of movement of the muscle.